Clay mineral diversity and abundance in sedimentary rocks of Gale crater, Mars

Bristow, Thomas F.; Craig, Patricia I.; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4080-4997; Treiman, Allan H.; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8073-2839

Clay mineral diversity and abundance in sedimentary rocks of Gale crater, Mars

Bristow, Thomas F.; Craig, Patricia I.; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4080-4997; Treiman, Allan H.; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8073-2839

URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11753/1490

Date: 2018-06-06

Abstract:

Clay minerals provide indicators of the evolution of aqueous conditions and possible habitats for life on ancient Mars. Analyses by the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity show that ~3.5–billion year (Ga) fluvio-lacustrine mudstones in Gale crater contain up to ~28 weight % (wt %) clay minerals.

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